The Jets owe Cedric Benson a big “Thank you,” and not just because the Bengals’ rejuvenated running back sat out Sunday night’s win-and-they’re-in game for Gang Green for precautionary reasons.

No, Benson is responsible for the Jets making the playoffs for a much different reason. In 2005 and 2006, Benson shared the Bears’ backfield with Thomas Jones. Chicago selected Benson with the No. 4 pick in the 2005 Draft and fancied him as their back of the future despite the fact Jones had run for 3,493 yards in his three years with the Bears.

The Bears looked to deal Jones and found a willing partner in the Jets, who were searching for a workhorse in the backfield to replace Curtis Martin, who retired a year earlier. But the Bears were apparently more determined to unload Jones then the Jets were to acquire him, and GM Mike Tannenbaum stole him with a swap of second-round draft picks before the 2007 season.

Benson had a bad year in 2007 that ended after 11 games with a knee injury. Then in the offseason, Benson was arrested for a DWI and a BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) and the Bears cut ties with him.

The Jets have had no qualms with the trade. Jones has come exactly as advertised and has only improved in his three seasons with the Jets, rushing for 1,119 yards in 2007, 1,312 in 2008, and career highs of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Jones has been the Jets’ rock through Mark Sanchez’s struggles, Rex Ryan’s bravado, and Leon Washington’s Week 7 season-ending broken leg. Jones has remain under-appreciated through it all as the Jets refused to talk contract extension with him this season, which led him to holding out for parts of training camp.

But make no mistake, the Jets wouldn’t be preparing for the postseason without him. Just like the Bengals wouldn’t be here without Benson. The former Texas star sat out the beginning of 2008 waiting for a team to get desperate enough to take a chance on the troubled back. With Chris Perry struggling mightily early last season, the Bengals became that team. And Benson worked himself back into shape with a decent season: 747 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. But this year he became the back the Bears imagined four years ago.

Benson became the perfect for the new Bengals, who look a lot like the new Jets, dependent on running the ball and defense. He ran for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns this season.

So the two backs — one under-appreciated, one finally fulfilling his potential — will meet in Cincinnati this Saturday as one of the main reasons each team is in the playoffs.